We recently connected with O’Jay Barr and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, O’Jay thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

All of my books are important to me for different reasons. However, the one that is the most meaningful to me right now is a black lesbian romance that I am currently writing. You know – girl meets girl, girl falls in love with girl and they live happily ever after type of romance. I’ve drawn inspiration from some of my recent favorite black love stories – The Photograph, Sylvie’s Love, and A Journal for Jordan, but of course, I am telling the story from the lesbian perspective. I’m extremely excited for this one to be finished and to introduce it to the world. I think it is important to show this aspect of lesbian love without the drama, cheating, and everything that society tends to associate with our relationships. I want to normalize a real romance and love between two women.

O’Jay, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been involved in the arts for most of my life. I started dancing at age five and continued to do that all the way through high school. I also acted and attended a performing arts middle school and high school for two years. I’ve always had a love for books and reading so it was only natural for me to eventually start writing as well. I started with poetry and short stories. My first book was published June of 2o2o and the second in June of 2021.

I write lesbian romances, some with drama and some without. What sets my books apart is that these are real stories that most women can connect with. My books aren’t just for my LGBTQ+ community. I think that’s what makes me the proudest – to hear someone say it’s a love story, not a lesbian love story. It has also been refreshing to hear a heterosexual person tell me how much they loved the book or how much a particular character reminds them of themselves and their friends. My books are about successful people of color that are trying to find themselves. So although the storylines focus on issues within the LGBTQ+ community such as coming out or struggling with one’s sexuality, it’s also a coming-of-age story. I believe that my voice lends honesty to the story that will help open the door for literature that is not fully explored by mainstream media.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

There are many ways that society can support artists and creatives. Of course, the most obvious is financial support by purchasing our work or services. However, that isn’t the only way. Sharing and recommending to others is just as important. Share our social media, our products, and your review on your social media and with your family and friends. Recommend our products and services to your friends and family. Encourage your friends and family to purchase their own product instead of borrowing yours but if you do allow them to borrow yours then encourage them to talk about it on social media and with their friends. Most of the time when someone is looking for recommendations for products and services they check within their circle first so word of mouth is a big deal in helping out creatives and small businesses in general.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an author is having someone tell me how much they love my work or how much they relate to it. It is truly a humbling experience to have someone reach out and tell me they are a fan. I love getting those messages and I love the conversations about the storyline. I’ve had people reach out with questions or their take on a particular aspect. Those messages and conversations actually inspire me with new ideas. There are days that I feel like giving up or I think what’s the point of telling this story, it’s within those moments that the positive messages, reviews, and love from my “fans” that I am able to push forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.authorojaybarr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_ojaybarr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OJayBAuthor
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@author_ojaybarr

Image Credits
All That Glissons Photography